Portable metal fire escape ladder



April 11, 1961 T. A. BELL 2,979,154

- PORTABLE METAL FIRE ESCAPE LADDER Filed March 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 54 THOMAS A. BELL F ji I April 11, 1961 T. A. BELL 2,979,154

PORTABLE METAL FIRE ESCAPE LADDER I Filed March 16. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 9- THOMAS A. BELL AZTUKNE'Y PORTABLE METAL FIRE ESCAEE LADDER Thomas A. Bell, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. (66 Linden Ave., Park Ridge, NJ.)

Filed Mar. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 799,690

1 Claim. (U. 182-73) This invention relates to portable fire escapes of the flexible ladder type, and more particularly this invention relates to a chain type fire escape ladder which is collapsible and kept inside the building until an emergency arises.

Chain type fire escape ladders have theunique feature of being capable of being collapsed into extremely compact units so that they may be conveniently stored inside a building until the use therefor becomes apparent. These ladders are useful in that they furnish convenient means for descending from a point some distance from the ground to the ground or a similar point of safety. The fire escape ladders of the kind with which this invention deals is usually constructed of chains of equal length with a number of predetermined spaced rungs. However, oftentimes when the collapsible ladder is not employed or not in use the ladder is gathered into a cumbersome bundle. At the upper end of many fire escape ladders known in the prior art, a suitable fastening or securing means is provided to prevent the ladder from falling out of the window. This fastening means may take the form of a clamp which is secured to the window sill. Or the clamp may fasten to a radiator which is oftentimes found beneath the window. It will be appreciated that people who find it necessary to employ the fire escape ladders for emergency use are usually at the time in a highly emotional condition. In such a state it will be seen that a person can only with considerable difiiculty manipulate any sort of fastening device.

The prior art fire escape ladders have obviated in some instances the need for the person to fasten such a ladder prior to use. In such an instance, the fire escape ladder is permanently and firmly aifixed to the wall proximate the window. However, such a ladder must be retained near the wall and window. Oftentimes the ladder is merely bundled and covered and left lying on the floor by the window. Other times a suitable housing is positioned by the window so that it contains the fire escape ladder. While this is advantageous, the difficulty of arranging a sightly unit will become apparent upon consideration. Furthermore, expensive means must be attached to the wall for securing the said ladder.

Additionally, the prior art fire escape ladders of the type with which this invention is concerned are oftentimes provided with spacing means so that the ladder is held away from the outside wall of the building. In this manner the user of the ladder finds a better foothold on the rungs as Well as a better handhold on the chain lengths. Without such spacing means the ladder lies in contacting relationship with the wall of the building. The person using a ladder can only place the tips of his toes on the rungs while placing his hands around the chain lengths. In doing so the knuckles of the users hands become bruised since they are in constant contact with the wall of the building.

It can be seen from the above that the prior art fire escape ladders have a great number of disadvantages and present difiiculties in use. Accordingly it is a primary Patented Apr. 11, rear object of the present invention to provide'a fire escape ladder having unique means for securely positioning the ladder in a window.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fire escape ladder having a unique and ingenious means for storing such a ladder.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fire escape ladder having unique and ingenious means for spacing such a ladder from the wall of a building when the ladder is in use. i

It is still another object of the invention to provide a fire escape ladder that admits of quick and'ready manipulation and adjustment when an emergency arises, that will fit any window and does not require the use of special attachments or window fixtures to secure it in place.

For further comprehension of the invention, andof the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set-forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window with a fire escape embodying one form of the invention applied thereto and suspended from the outside of the window. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the window with the fire escape ladder shown in rolled-up inoperative position thereon inside the window.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a step in the securing of the fire-escape ladder preparatory to unrolling the ladder to operative position.

Fig. 5 is. a fragmentary vertical sectional 'view through the center of a window frame showing'a modified form of fire escape ladder applied to the window frame, the ladder being shown in full lines in partially open operative position and in dot-dash'lines in adjusted position.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the ladder shown in Fig. 5 in partially open operative position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of part of the ladder showing the rung construction.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail view showing the pivotal connection between the sections of the angle bar, parts being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view thereof, with the bolt shown in releasing position in-dotted lines.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the headed bolt shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line Iii-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. l a fire escape embodying the first form of the invention is'shown and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The tire escape is shown applied in operative condition to a double hung casement window of ordinary construction having a top rail 12, side stiles 14, 14, sill 1:6 and upper and lower sashes 13- and 20, respectively. The lower sash 26* is raised to open position.

The fire escape is of the portablefiexible ladder type and comprises a round supporting rod 22 for the ladder, preferably made of solid steel but may be made-ofjsteel pipe and is of a length sufiicient to span a windowof average width, although it will be'understood that the dimensions as to the diameter and length of the rod may be varied to meet different needs and requirements. The rod may also be of the self-locking telescopic type. Flat circular heads '23 are formedon the ends of the rod 22. A pair of spaced angle bars 24 are fixedly-connected -*at one end ofthe rod 22 midwayits'ends for-spacing' the ladder awayfrom the window and wall 25- of the dwelling.

The connection for each angle bar includes an integral loop or hook 26 formed on said end of one side of each angle bar hooked around the rod and an integral perforated disc portion 28 formed on said end of the other of each angle bar, the round supporting rod 22 extending through the perforation in the discs. This connection of the angle bars to the supporting rod 22 permits the spaced angle bars 24 to be slid lengthwise of the supporting rod so as to gauge them to the width of the window, setscrews 30 being provided to clamp the angle bars in their adjusted positions.

A ladder unit 32 is fixedly connected to the free ends of the angle bars 24. This unit includes the side supports of the ladder, said sides each being preferably formed of a flexible chain 34 connected at one end to a round solid metal supporting rod 36 by looping the end link therearound adjacent one end thereof. Said rod 36 extends across the space between the ends of the angle bars 24 and said one end thereof extends through a transverse opening formed in a circular enlargement or head 38 formed on one side of the angle bar at its free end.

Each end of the rod 36 is threaded for accommodating a nut 40 to fasten the rod to the angle bar. Another nut 42 on the rod 36 inside the end link of each chain prevents the chain from sliding longitudinally of the rod. Secured to the sides or chains 34 at proper predetermined intervals therealong are the rungs 44. The rungs are formed of round solid rod material similar to the end supporting rod 36, the threaded ends of the rods being extended through opposed links in the chains 34 and retained in position by nuts 46 threaded on the protruding threaded ends of the rods. Nuts 48 on the threaded ends of the rods or rungs 44 inside the chains or sides 34 prevent the chains from sliding longitudinally of the rods or rungs. An additional length of chain '45 may be tied to the supporting rod 36 and first rung 44 of the ladder at each end thereof to reinforce the ladder at this point.

The other ends of the chains 34 are fastened to a metal spool or reel 50. The spool includes a tubular body 52 with annular flanges 54 at the ends thereof, said other ends of the chains being fastened to the tubular body 52 by split rings 56 hooked through openings 57 in the body. The tubular body is slightly longer than the length of the rungs or rods 44 to permit the chains 34 to be rolled or coiled therearound. The end flanges 54 guide the chains in the winding and unwinding movements thereof and hold the chains in coiled condition. The flanges also serve as handles for rotating the spool or reel so as to wind the chains about the tubular body and readily and compactly house the chains in such position that the ladder may be quickly unreeled and thrown from the window.

A hook 58 is pivotally mounted on the supporting rod 36 between the angled spacing bars 24 for releasably holding the coiled ladder from unwinding on the spool or reel 50. This hook has one end looped loosely around the rod as indicated at 60 and its other end formed with a hook portion 62 for booking over an adjacent rung 44 of the ladder whereby the ladder is held against uncoiling. The angle bars 24 may be omitted and the ladder unit attached directly to rod 22, by securing the ends of the chains 34 to the rod.

In use, the spacing angle bars 24 are placed on the top of the window sill 16 with the supporting rod 22 positioned behind the window frame or casing and having its headed ends 23 resting against and interlocked with the inner faces of the side stiles 14 of the window frame' or casing. In this position of the fire escape, the ends of the spacing angle bars extend outwardly away from the wall 25 of the dwelling as shown in Fig. l. The hook 58 is then unloosened from the rung of the ladder and the spool with the ladder coiled therearound is rolled outwardly along the horizontal sides of the angle bars 24 and dropped downwardly. The direction of the coiling of the chains is such that the chains will uncoil in the 4 direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2 whereby the spool will drop in a truly vertical direction and will not swing or sway against the wall of the dwelling. Finally the spool and chains will be suspended away from the wall of the dwelling thereby ensuring a firm foothold and a firm handheld upon the rungs.

When the fire escape is not in use, the ladder is coiled around the spool and hooked against uncoiling by the hook 58 and the supporting rod 22 is supported on a pair of spaced hooks 64 fastened to the inside of the window sill below the side stiles 14 and below the top surface of the sill as shown in Fig. 3, or the fire escape in its coiled compact form may be supported on a chair or the like in the room at the window.

Referring now to the modified form of fire escape 10' shown in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, this form is similar to the form of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, except that the spacing angle bars 24 are sectional, each angle bar including a body portion 70 and an extension portion 72, constituting an outrigger, pivotally joined to the end of the body portion. The extension portions '72 are adapted to carry the ladder unit a greater distance from the wall 25 of the building as shown in Fig. 5 than the spacing bars 24 of the form of Fig. l. The pivotal joint between the body portion 70 and the extension portion 72 is provided by extending one of the sides of the angular extension portion 72 as indicated at 76. The outer free end of said extension 76 is formed with an enlargement or head 78, which enlargement or head is formed with a transverse round opening 80 through the center thereof and with a keyway 82 intersecting the opening 80 and extending the length of the opening. The extension 76 is placed in face-to-face relation with the corresponding side of the adjacent body portion 70, the opening and keyway being in alignment with a similar round opening 84 and intersecting keyway 86 in said side of the body portion 70.

A headed bolt 88 with a key or feather 90 formed along its shank is inserted through the opening of head 78, with the key or feather sliding through the keyway 82 thereof, and through the aligned opening 84 and keyway 86 in the body portion 70. The inserted end of the shank of the bolt is formed with a central socketed threaded opening 92 for receiving the threaded shank of a headed screw 94, the head of which screw is larger in diameter than the diameter of the shank of the bolt.

By setting up on the screw 94, the extension 76 is clamped to the body portion 70, the interlock between the key 90 and the walls of the keyways 82 and 86 pre venting pivoting or swinging of the extension portion or outrigger 72. By pressing the bolt 88 inwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9, the key 90 is moved out of and away from the keyways in the head 78 and body portion 70 leaving the head 78 journalled on the round shank of the bolt whereby the extension portion or outrigger 72 may be swung thereabout and downwardly to the vertically disposed position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 5, thereby bringing the ladder unit closer to the wall 25 of the dwelling. The chains 34' are secured to the outer free ends of the extension portions or outriggers 72 by means of headed bolts 94' extending through links in the chains 34' and through aligned openings in the outer free ends of the extension portions 72. A nut 98 on each of the bolts holds the bolt in securing position.

The rungs 44' in this form of fire escape are formed with threaded socket openings 96 at their ends to receive the shanks of screws 98 inserted through links of the chains 34' whereby the rungs are fastened in position. Nuts 100 on the threaded ends of the rungs inside the chains prevent movement of the chains along the rungs.

In all other respects, the form of fire escape shown in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, is the same as the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts. The fire escape 10,

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is used in a manner similar to the fire escape 10 of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 10 In a portable fire escape, an elongated rod of sufiicient length to span the opening in a window casing, elongated sectional angle bars spaced along the rod and extending radially therefrom and adapted to seat on the sill of a window casing, said angle bars each including a body section and an extension section pivotally connected to the end of the body section, said extension section constituting an outrigger adapted to project beyond the outside of the sill of the window casing, flexible chains fastened at one end to the ends of the body sections of the angle bars, rods constituting rungs spaced along the chains and secured thereto, means for fastening the chains to the outer free ends of the outriggers, a flanged spool secured to the other ends of the chains for supporting the chains and rungs in coiled relation thereon, said body sections and extension sections having overlapping ends, said overlapping ends having aligned round openings and radial intersecting keyways, two removable headed bolts having round shanks slidably mounted in the aligned opem ings, the shanks having ends with threaded socket openings therein, headed screws in said socket openings for holding the bolts in position in the aligned openings, and keys on the end portions of the shanks engaging in the keyways to prevent rotation of the extension sections on the body sections, the shanks of the bolts being longer than the combined widths of the overlapped ends of said sections, whereby opposed axial movement of the bolts inward of said body section clears said keys from the sections and permits rotation of the extension sections on round portions of the shanks adjacent the heads of the bolts, the bolts remaining positioned with the keys thereof selectively engaged with and disengaged from the keyways when the body and extension sections are extended in alignment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 113,357 Burrows Apr. 4, 1871 287,560 Miller Oct. 30, 1883 381,853 Schumann Apr. 24, 1888 1,085,097 Dan Ian. 20, 1914 1,111,794 Hajek Sept. 29, 1914 2,211,259 Diehl Aug. 13, 1940 2,778,596 Goodenough Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 661.247 Germany u Oct. 1, 1938 

